Cultivator



P 9, 5 I 'l. c. ROGERS ETAL 2,850,956

CULTIVATOR' Filed April 25. 1955 1 i I INVENTORS IVOR C. ROGERS 8ATTORNEY.

United States Patent CULTIVATOR I Ivor C. Rogers and Julian J.Karasievicll, Toronto, On-

tario, Canada, assignors to Massey-Ferguson Inc., a corporation ofMaryland Application April 25, 1955, Serial No. 503,564 1 Claim. c1.97-4733 This invention relates to earth working tools such as plows orcultivators and is more particularly concerned with a mounting therefor.More specifically, this invention pertains to a tool mounting of thequick release type which permits the tool to rise quickly and freeitself of any obstruction and then automatically return to its normaloperating position.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved automaticresetting, quick release, resilient mounting for earth working tools.

An object ofthis invention is to provide an automatic resetting,resilient mounting for an earth working tool, in which the forcerequired to raise the tool does not increase as the tool is raised but,rather, remains substantially constant. This insures relief for the toolwithout the danger of damage to the mounting or supporting structure.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool mounting of theabove type which, as the tool is being raised, has a decreasing momentarm of resistance which acts in cooperation with an increasing springforce. This results in a substantially constant force being required onthe tool, throughout its upward movement, in order to raise the tool.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic resetting,quick release, tool mounting in which a spring of economical size andstrength can be utilized, due to the position and location of thespring, but yet results in a tool having a higher preload than wouldotherwise be obtained. The ultimate result is a tool which is maintainedat a more constant working depth, and which is economical to manufacturebecause of the efficient use of its component parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic resetting,resiliently mounted tool, the fulcrum point of which is so located so asto have exceptionally good ground clearance for a relatively smallamount of angular movement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automaticresetting, resilient mounting for an earth working tool which is easilyand quickly adjustable onthe supporting frame, gives good trashclearance when in 'the working position and good ground clearance, or

vertical movement, for a relatively small amount of arcuate movement.

Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description, taken in conjunction with the attachedsheets of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, isillustrated one embodiment of this invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the tool mounting constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view, in section, taken on the line 22of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view of the resilient means, taken on line 3-3 ofFigure 1. t

secured to the underside of supporting frame.

thereto.

ice

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the bracket as shown in Figure 1.

In implements of the character to which this invention relates, agenerally horizontally disposed supporting frame is usually provided forcarrying a plurality of tools over the ground at a substantiallyconstant attitude relative Such a frame is usually of rectangular formand comprises a series of longitudinally and laterally arranged beams.Referring more particularly to the drawings, one of such longitudinalbeams 10 is shown which is of I-shaped cross section and to which issecured a lateral beam 12 of square tubular cross sectional shape. Beam12 is secured to beam 10 by means of clamps 13, 14 which engage eitherside of beam 10. Lugs 16, 17 are Welded to beam 12 and bear againstclamps 13, 14 to prevent lateral displacement of the latter relative tobeam 10. Bolts 18 pass through apertures in the flanges 19, 20 ofmounting bracket 21 and through apertures in clamps 13, 14 where theyare secured by nuts 22. The bracket 21 is thus rigidly and adjustably Inthis regard it should be noted that the entire tool mounting is locatedunderneath the support frame 10, 12 where it is easily adjusted andserviced. Furthermore, it does not interfere with other component partsof the implement, such as drill or fertilizer hoppers which may belocated on the upper side of the support frame, and the tools can bepositioned on the support frame without interference therewith.

Mounting bracket 21 is comprised of two parallel arranged angle members24, 25 having downwardly extending flanges 26, 27 respectively, whichform a downwardly facing channel opening 28 arranged .ina fore and aftdirection relative to the direction in which the implement is moved overthe ground. A reinforcing plate 29 is Welded across the forward ends ofangles 24, 25. At the rear ends of angles 24, 25 is welded an upstandingportion 31 having a laterally arranged bore 32 extending therethroughand at a location above the downwardly facing channel opening 28. Thedownwardly extending flanges 26, 27 of bracket 21 each have an aperture34 extending therethrough and which are in lateral alignment and formthe fulcrum point for the tool shank about to be described. The bracket21 and beams 10, 12 form a rigid support structure.

Tool shank 40 has a forward portion 41 which is relatively straight andextends between the flanges 26, 27 and into the channel opening 28. Theforward end 42 of shank 40 is enlarged and has a bore 43 which isregisterable with apertures 34. The shank 40 has a downwardly andrearwardly extending curved portion 44 and a forwardly curved portion 45to which is secured a tool 4-6, shown here as a chisel point.

A pin 50 extends through apertures 34 and bore 43 and is secured thereinby keys 51 at either end. The pin 50 thus forms the fulcrum for shank 40and it will be noted that its location is below and forward of bore 32in the rear end of bracket 21. or pin 50, is located considerablyforward of the tool point 53.

Resilient means, in the form of compression coil springs 60, 61, islocated to the rear of fulcrum 50 and above the shank 40. This resilientmeans operatively connects the support structure, at a point abovefulcrum 50, with a portion of shank 40 which is rearwardly of fulcrum50. A collar 62 is welded to shank 40 and has a projection 63 at eitherside. A bolt 64 extends through bore 32 in bracket 21 and is securedtherein by nut 65. On either end of bolt 64 is mounted an eye bolt 66,67 by means of the eye portions 68, 69 respectively. Eyebolts 66, 67also have collars 70, 71 against which abut Furthermore, this fulcrum, I

the forward ends of springs encircling bolts 66, 67. The rear ends ofsprings 60, 61 bear against the washers 73, 74 which in turn arerockably mounted in their grooves 76, 77, respectively, on projections63 of collar 62. Nuts 79 hold the resilient unit in assembled relation.It will be noted that the point of spring (or resilient unit) connectionto the frame structure is approximately midway between the shank pivotpoint and the point where the spring is connected with the shank. Theresilient unit extends generally forwardly and also at an acute angle tothe upper portion 41 of shank 40.

As shown in Figure 1, the tool is in the working position and the momentarm through which the springs 60, 61 act relative to the fulcrum point50 is designated by the letter a. In the raised position, however, asindicated by the broken lines in Figure 1, the moment arm isconsiderably shorter and is indicated by the reference letter b. Due tothe position of the resilient unit relative to point 50, as the tool israised, this moment arm progressively decreases. However, while themoment arm of the spring is decreasing, the spring is also beingcompressed, and its reactive force increases. Thus the decreasing momentarm and the increase of force required to compress the spring contributeto require a substantially constant force to raise the tool throughoutits raising period. As a result, relief of the tool is assured anddamage to the tool, mounting and support structure prevented.Furthermore, by so locating the spring unit above the shank, good trashclearance is obtained.

By locating the fulcrum above and considerably ahead of the point 53,good ground clearance is obtained for only slight angular movement ofthe shank. Additionally, because of this relationship, the tool quicklyand easily reenters the ground due to its angle of attack and positivepenetration takes place immediately after the obstruction is passed.Because this arrangement does not require an increasing force on thetool in order to continue raising it, a higher preload force can be seton the tool which would be required to raise it, without the necessityof utilizing heavier and more expensive parts throughout. In otherWords, a higher preload can be used, resulting in even depth of plowing,by the efiicient use of relatively smaller and economical springs andassociated mounting and supporting parts.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

A ground working cultivator of the resiliently mounted, automaticallyresetting type; including a support structure, a cultivator shankpivotally secured at its forward end to said structure and extendingrearwardly from its point of pivotal connection, a spring guide rodpivotally secured to said support above and rearwardly of said pivotalconnection and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, abutmentmeans secured to an intermediate portion of said shank and having anaperture therein loosely receiving the outer end of said guide rod, acompression coil spring positioned on said guide rod between saidsupport structure and said abutment, and a fulcrum on said abutmentengageing the end of said spring, said fulcrum permitting the inner endof said spring to remain substantially normal to the longitudinal axisof said guide rod as the spring is compressed by said cultivator shank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS197,225 Osborn Nov. 20, 1877 1,068,832 Alsup July 29, 1913 1,088,767Bradford Mar. 3, 1914 1,687,422 Bensien Oct. 9, 1928 2,649,725 OehlerAug. 25, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,356 Great Britain of 1908 731,210 FranceMay 24, 1932

